Just joining here at RV-Dreams.com and am quickly impressed with the quality of community that I see here. I'm looking forward to getting acquainted and to sharing in the discussions that are going on. Let me introduce us. I'm Forrest, DW is Mary. We live in Beloit, Wisconsin, right on the state line with Illinois. I'm retiring on June 30, 2010, from 43 years of ministry (started early at age 20, but that's a different story). Mary has about three more years to work before retiring as a public school teacher. In retirement, I plan to do some coaching and consulting with churches, nonprofits, and some other areas where I have acquired a bit of experience over all my ministry years. These are things that can be done with a mobile lifestyle, particularly the coaching part of it.
We're long time campers of the tent variety, including ultralight backpacking tents, an all season expedition tent, and a regular family style tent. We've backpacked, canoed, and kayaked in all sorts of places. So the camping world is not stranger to us.
This past summer we bought our first RV, a 2006 Class A shortie, Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q (27' long). It was very gently used and seems in good shape. We only got to use it once before the summer was over, but that was a delightful short trip.
After I retire next summer, we are planning an extended trip. We're still working on where that will take us, but we'll take our cat Sally and head out for most of the rest of the summer. We figure for this summer and the next we'll put the coach to use with long summer trips. After that, when Mary retires ... well, we're talking about that. Full-timing is a possibility that is being discussed. I want to do it and Mary is willing to consider it. And I know that both of us have to want it before it's really a good idea. I'm hoping that the extended summer trips will give us a bit of a taste of long-term living in the RV. I'm trying to not get too far out in front of her before she is willing to come along.
So I will be reading everything I can find on this forum (and probably others, but this really seems to be a pleasant group of people compared to many forums). No questions right now, but I know I've got a lot to learn and so I'm sure some questions may arise. I'll look forward to getting acquainted with some of you in the months to come.
janieD said
10:37 PM Jan 10, 2010
Welcome to the forum and I know you will enjoy your time here and on the road. I'm a newbie but there is a ton of experienced people on this forum who have already helped us a lot. Enjoy the road!
Jim01 said
07:00 AM Jan 11, 2010
Welcome Forrest and Mary.
Sounds like a plan to me. One thing you have to keep in mind is that being on an extended vacation is much different than Full-timing. On a vacation, you rush around from attraction to attraction and you're usually in a hurry to get from one place to another. After you've been full-timing for awhile, you slow down and you realize that you don't have to rush. If you don't see the attraction this year, there's always next year.
No time schedules and no have-to's unless you want them.
Jim
CR47 said
11:33 AM Jan 11, 2010
Thanks, janieD and Jim and Linda for your welcome.
Jim, I am well aware of the tendency to rush from attraction to attraction on an extended vacation. Been there, done that, and don't want a repeat of the experience. What we're trying to chart out is a nearly two month trip to fill the rest of the summer with only a few "required" stops and not all of them have to be on a fixed schedule since they are stop-off-and-visit with family members stops. What we're trying to work out is relatively short driving days, two-three day stops in interesting places and a certain amount of serendipity in the schedule. It's still not what full-timing is, but will give us a good sense of two people living in small quarters for a period of time.
By early spring we plan to do some weekend jaunts to try out the coach more fully and be sure everything works the way we expect. They won't be very far away since I'll still have to be close enough to my church to provide worship leadership at the Sat. and/or Sun. services. But there are several decent camp grounds and RV parks within 30 minutes of Beloit.
We'll iron out any bugs and then head out the last week of June. And we'll see where all we go. We've always liked traveling to an area, setting up camp ... or in this case, coach ... and exploring what's around us. One of the chief things to be decided is the kind of tow dolly to purchase so we can have a toad for side trips.
Forrest
Happytrails said
05:28 PM Jan 11, 2010
Welcome to the RV Dreams forum!! We're glad you are here. Sounds like you all have a great plan in motion. Feel free to jump right in with questions/replies. We love hearing different views and comments. The folks here are very friendly.
tumwatergal said
11:03 PM Jan 11, 2010
Welcome to the forums. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. RV life is great. Even if you never do a fulltime thing, you can still get out in that new RV and see the country on long trips. Have fun! Enjoy!
Let me introduce us. I'm Forrest, DW is Mary. We live in Beloit, Wisconsin, right on the state line with Illinois. I'm retiring on June 30, 2010, from 43 years of ministry (started early at age 20, but that's a different story). Mary has about three more years to work before retiring as a public school teacher. In retirement, I plan to do some coaching and consulting with churches, nonprofits, and some other areas where I have acquired a bit of experience over all my ministry years. These are things that can be done with a mobile lifestyle, particularly the coaching part of it.
We're long time campers of the tent variety, including ultralight backpacking tents, an all season expedition tent, and a regular family style tent. We've backpacked, canoed, and kayaked in all sorts of places. So the camping world is not stranger to us.
This past summer we bought our first RV, a 2006 Class A shortie, Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q (27' long). It was very gently used and seems in good shape. We only got to use it once before the summer was over, but that was a delightful short trip.
After I retire next summer, we are planning an extended trip. We're still working on where that will take us, but we'll take our cat Sally and head out for most of the rest of the summer. We figure for this summer and the next we'll put the coach to use with long summer trips. After that, when Mary retires ... well, we're talking about that. Full-timing is a possibility that is being discussed. I want to do it and Mary is willing to consider it. And I know that both of us have to want it before it's really a good idea. I'm hoping that the extended summer trips will give us a bit of a taste of long-term living in the RV. I'm trying to not get too far out in front of her before she is willing to come along.
So I will be reading everything I can find on this forum (and probably others, but this really seems to be a pleasant group of people compared to many forums). No questions right now, but I know I've got a lot to learn and so I'm sure some questions may arise. I'll look forward to getting acquainted with some of you in the months to come.
Sounds like a plan to me.
No time schedules and no have-to's unless you want them.
Jim
Jim, I am well aware of the tendency to rush from attraction to attraction on an extended vacation. Been there, done that, and don't want a repeat of the experience. What we're trying to chart out is a nearly two month trip to fill the rest of the summer with only a few "required" stops and not all of them have to be on a fixed schedule since they are stop-off-and-visit with family members stops. What we're trying to work out is relatively short driving days, two-three day stops in interesting places and a certain amount of serendipity in the schedule. It's still not what full-timing is, but will give us a good sense of two people living in small quarters for a period of time.
By early spring we plan to do some weekend jaunts to try out the coach more fully and be sure everything works the way we expect. They won't be very far away since I'll still have to be close enough to my church to provide worship leadership at the Sat. and/or Sun. services. But there are several decent camp grounds and RV parks within 30 minutes of Beloit.
We'll iron out any bugs and then head out the last week of June. And we'll see where all we go. We've always liked traveling to an area, setting up camp ... or in this case, coach ... and exploring what's around us. One of the chief things to be decided is the kind of tow dolly to purchase so we can have a toad for side trips.
Forrest